Interlocking collar element apparatus and method

Abstract

An interlocking collar element ( 10 ) apparatus and method includes a collar element ( 12 ) with a base section ( 14 ), the base section ( 14 ) including a first end ( 16 ), a second end ( 18 ) and a mid section ( 20 ). An attachment end ( 22 ) is connected to the first end ( 16 ), the attachment end ( 22 ) including a transverse locking arm ( 24 ). A receiving end ( 26 ) is connected to the second end ( 18 ) of the base section ( 14 ), the receiving end including a transverse locking bar ( 24 ). A projection ( 32 ) is attached to the mid section ( 20 ). In other aspects of the invention, a plurality of interlocking collar elements ( 12 ) are connected together to form a collar.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An interlocking collar element comprising: 
       (a) a collar element with a base section, said base section including a first end, a second end and a mid section;  
       (b) an attachment end connected to said first end of said base section, said attachment end including a transverse locking arm;  
       (c) a receiving end connected to said second end of said base section, said receiving end including a transverse locking bar; and  
       (d) a rectangular projection attached across said mid section forming a projection edge across said mid section.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of said interlocking collar elements connected together to form a collar. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising: 
       (a) a first end piece connected to said attachment end, said first end piece including an opening; and  
       (b) a second end piece connected to said receiving end, said second end piece including an opening.  
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a combination of interlocking collar elements, some with said projections and some without said projections. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said transverse locking arm comprises a pair of transverse locking arms. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said transverse locking bar comprises a pair of transverse locking bars. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said base section further comprises: 
       (a) a planar outer surface; and  
       (b) an inner surface with a V-shaped projection.  
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a T-shaped projection. 
     
     
       9. An animal training collar comprising: 
       (a) a plurality of removably attachable interlocking collar elements connected together to form said collar, said collar elements including a base section, an attachment end and a receiving end;  
       (b) said attachment end including a transverse locking arm;  
       (c) said receiving end including a transverse locking bar; and  
       (d) said base section including a planar outer surface and a rectangular projection connected across an inner surface of at least one of said base sections forming a projection edge across said inner surface.  
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
       (a) a first end piece connected to said attachment end, said first end piece including an opening for receiving a connector;  
       (b) a second end piece connected to said receiving end, said second end piece including an opening for receiving a connector.  
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said transverse locking arm comprises a pair of transverse locking arms. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said transverse locking bar comprises a pair of transverse locking bars. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said base section further comprises: 
       (a) a planar outer surface; and  
       (b) an inner surface with a V-shaped projection.  
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a combination of interlocking collar elements, some with said projections and some without said projections. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a T-shaped projection. 
     
     
       16. An animal training collar method comprising the steps of: 
       (a) providing a plurality of removably attachable interlocking collar elements, said collar elements including a base section, an attachment end and a receiving end;  
       (b) providing a transverse locking arm in said attachment end;  
       (c) providing a transverse locking bar in said receiving end;  
       (d) providing a planar outer surface and an inner surface on said base section and attaching a rectangular projection across at least one inner surface of said base sections so as to form a projection edge across said inner surface; and  
       (e) connecting said collar elements together by joining the attachment end of one collar element with the receiving end of another collar element repeatedly so as to form a collar.  
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  further comprising the steps of; 
       (a) connecting a first end piece to said attachment end, said first end piece including an opening for receiving a connector; and  
       (b) connecting a second end piece to said receiving end, said second end piece including an opening for receiving a connector.  
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16  wherein the step of providing a transverse locking arm further comprises the step of providing a pair of transverse locking arms. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16  wherein the step of providing a transverse locking bar further comprises the step of providing a pair of transverse locking bars. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of providing some interlocking collar elements with said projections and some interlocking collar elements without said projections.